Water cooler

ABSTRACT

A water cooler including a frame having a plurality of vertically spaced chambers, including a compressor chamber, a food storage chamber, and a water storage chamber. The water storage chamber is provided with an open end and covered by a hingedly connected cover member. A support bracket for supporting a water container is mounted on the underside of the cover. A water container is placed in the support bracket and includes a tube for connecting the container to a water spout.

United States Patent 51 3,641,785

Portz 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] WATER COOLER 2,408,704 10/1946 Taylor..62/338 72} Inventor: William rr. Portz, 1454 State Line 2'788642 W957Bu'khead Avenue, Calumet City, 111. 60409 Primary Examiner Meyer Peru"[22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1970 Attorney-Sabin C. Bronson [21] Appl. No.:29,174 [57] ABSTRACT A water cooler including a frame having a pluralityof verti- ((2.11 Cally Spaced chambers, including a compressor chamber an. food Storage chamber and a water storage chamber. The [58] Field ofSearch ..62/338, 339, 389, 393, 396, h d

62/397 water storage chamber is provided wit an open end an covered by ahrngedly connected cover member. A support bracket for supporting awater container is mounted on the [56] References cued underside of thecover. A water container is placed in the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTSport bracket and includes a tube for connecting the container to a waters out. 2,274,409 2/1942 Harbinson ..62/396 p 2,276,937 3/1942 Cordova..62/338 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEB 15 I972 INVENTOR.

W/'///'am H. Ponz ATTORNEY WATER COOLER BACKGROUND-SUMMARY-DRAWINGS Thepresent invention relates to water coolers and more particularly to anew and improved structure for storing and supporting a water containerin a water cooler.

l-leretofore, water coolers have generally included a frame housing, arefrigeration unit for cooling the water and a support for the waterbottles on the top of frame. The water bottles are usually of from 1 to3 gallons capacity. The larger capacity bottles are particularlydifficult to insert on the top of the frame.

Moreover, the water coolers have been constructed in such a manner thatonly a water cooling function is performed. This is uneconomical becausethe refrigeration unit is generally of sufficient capacity so that itmay be used to cool a food storage compartment.

By the present invention it is proposed to provide a water cooler whichis constructed and arranged so that the installation of the watercontainer may be more easily accomplished. Also the water cooler isconstructed such that a portion thereof may be used as a food storagecompartment. The water cooler of the present invention comprisesgenerally a housing, including a plurality of vertically disposedchambers of which one of the chambers has a refrigeration compressorunit disposed therein. The uppermost of the chambers is -open ended andenclosed by a cover. A bracket is fixed to the underside of the coverfor supporting a container of water therein. Means are provided forconnecting the water bottle to a spout so that the water may bedischarged.

A food storage chamber may be formed between the upper water containerchamber and the compressor chamber, utilizing the cooling effect whichis used to cool the water.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water cooler embodying the structureof the present invention showing the front door and cover closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the frontdoor and top cover in the open position and showing some of the partsbroken away to show underlying details of structure.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the water container inits stored position in the water cooling chamber and showing inparticular the structure for connecting the container to the watercooler spout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,there is shown a water cooler embodying the structure of the presentinvention. The water cooler 10 comprises generally a cabinet 11 having alower compressor chamber 12, a food storage chamber 13, and a watercontainer cooling chamber 14.

The cabinet includes a rectangular frame fabricated from angle irons(not shown) or the like. Steel sheets having bonderized coating arefixed to the exterior of the frame.

The walls of the cabinet 11 may be provided with an insulation material15 such as a closed cell plastic, as for example polyurethane.

Along one side, the cabinet 11 is provided with a grid covered accessopening 16 which serves to pennit access to the refrigeration compressorassembly 41 housed in the compressor chamber12. The grid also providesair circulation to the compressor assembly to expose the latter toambient temperatures. Refrigerant-carrying tubes or lines 38 extendthrough the rear side of the cabinet 11 and serve to cool the chambers13 and 14.

The front of the cabinet 11 is formed with a front opening 17 providingcommunication to the food storage chamber 13. A door 18 hinged alongside hinges l9 seals the opening 17 in the closed position of the door.The door 18 may be maintained latched in the closed position by amagnetic latch 20. The food storage chamber 13 may be separated from thecompressor chamber 12 by a shelf 40. The chamber 13 is separated fromthe water cooler chamber 14 by a partition 21.

Preferably, the partition 21 is constructed and made from a materialwhich does not inhibit heat transfer between the water cooling chamber14 and the food storage chamber 13. It is to be appreciated that thecooling effect realized by circulating the refrigerant tubes 38 throughthe chamber 13 may also be used to cool the chamber 14.

The water cooler chamber 14 is defined by the partition 21 and anopposite open end 22 which is adapted to be sealed by a cover 23. Thecover 23 is hingedly connected to the rear top edge of the cabinet 11.The underside of the top or cover 23 may be lined with insulationmaterial similar to that used along the sides. Also fixed to theunderside of the cover is a bracket or receptacle 24 which serves tohold a water container 26. The bracket 24 is generally U-shapedincluding a plate 24a spaced from the inner wall of the top 23, and endwalls 24b extending normal from the end edges of the plate 24a and fixedat the free edges thereof to the top 23. A base plate 24c similarlyextends normal from the lower edges of the bracket 24a and end walls24b. It is to be noted that the bracket 24 tapers somewhat downwardly tofacilitate the insertion of the container 26 therein.

As shown, the container 26 is of generally elongated rectangular crosssection and includes a somewhat tapered end which is received in thebracket 24. The container 26 may be made from plastic or the like and ifdesired may be discarded after use. Connected to the underside of thecontainer 26 is a feeder tube 27 which communicates from the interior ofthe water container 26 and is of sufficient rigidity to force itselfdown within a funnellike end 45 of the tube 28 to seal itself therein.Tube 28 leads to the spout 31 and has a push release button 29 forconvenience in opening spout 31 when water is desired therefrom throughsaid nozzle.

As shown, the water container 26 is initially inserted into the holderor bracket 24 with the cover 23 in the fully open position. Thereafter,the cover 23 is closed, whereupon the tube 27 passes through an openingin the base and into the funnel 45 of tube 28 sealing itself therein bythe weight of the container and cover 23.

The spout 31 may be of the more or less standard push or plunger typewhich when the plunger is depressed opens a valve (not shown) so thatthe water may be discharged therefrom. The spout 31 is fixed to aconcave plate 33 within a recess 32 in the front of the cabinet 11, andan open grid screen or support 34 defines the base of the recess 32.

Disposed below the grid screen base 34 is a drain trough 36 which isinclined downwardly toward and connected to an evaporator trough inwhich the overflow or discarded water is evaporated. The evaporatortrough may communicate with a water drain pipe (not shown) if preferred.

The food storage compartment may include a plurality of shelves or rack39. The refrigeration unit 41 may be of any suitable type capable ofachieving the desired temperature in the water cooler chamber 14.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it is believed one versed in the art may readily understand theoperation of the structure as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Iclaim:

l. A refrigerated water cooler comprising a housing including arefrigeration unit stored in the base,

an upper open end,

a cover hinged to said upper end,

a bracket secured to the under side of said cover,

a water container detachably supported in said bracket and stored withinthe upper end of said housing when said cover is closed,

a feeder tube leading from said water container,

a partition immediately below the bracket in the closed position of thecover fonning a water cooling compartment between the partition andcover,

a water spout mounted on said housing,

and means providing a passage between said water spout and said feedertube of said water container, whereby carrying tubes extend along one ofthe walls of said housing.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the passage means betweenthe container and spout is of sufficient rigidity to seal itself withinsaid passage by the weight of the cover thereon.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said passage meansincludes a tube, having a funnel at one end, leading to a spout, andsaid container has a semirigid feeder tube scalable within said funnelwhen said cover is closed.

i t i

1. A refrigerated water cooler comprising a housing including arefrigeration unit stored in the base, an upper open end, a cover hingedto said upper end, a bracket secured to the under side of said cover, awater container detachably supported in said bracket and stored withinthe upper end of said housing when said cover is closed, a feeder tubeleading from said water container, a partition immediately below thebracket in the closed position of the cover forming a water coolingcompartment between the partition and cover, a water spout mounted onsaid housing, and means providing a passage between said water spout andsaid feeder tube of said water container, whereby when said spout ismanually actuated water may be drawn from the container.
 2. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a plateportion spaced from said cover and a pair of legs extending from saidplate portion, said legs at the free edges thereof being attached tosaid underside of said cover.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein a food storage compartment is provided between saidrefrigeration unit and said water cooling compartment.
 4. The inventionas defined in claim 1 in which refrigerant carrying tubes extend alongone of the walls of said housing.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein the passage means between the container and spout is ofsufficient rigidity to seal itself within said passage by the weight ofthe cover thereon.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpassage means includes a tube, having a funnel at one end, leading to aspout, and said container has a semirigid feeder tube sealable withinsaid funnel when said cover is closed.